This isn’t necessarily intentional, but some agents, when a project isn’t going well for them or they can’t seem to get into the “zone,” just start to fade away.

What I mean by that is that they slowly stop communicating on instant messaging, put less and less calling time in, and eventually, well… just fade away.

If you find yourself beginning to avoid your virtual employer (me!?), take a hard look at what’s happening in your project and take action to fix any problems.

Instead of just fading away, be open about it and opt out of the project if you don’t think you can overcome your difficulties. Your employer will respect you for being honest and will appreciate that you gave them early enough notice so they could find some way to pick up the slack for you.

This way you don’t burn any bridges. If you need a reference some day or a chance at a new project, you’ll have someone to turn to.